Closure arrangement for opening of sheet-metal containers



Sept. 2, 1941.

CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR OPENING OF SHEET-METAL CONTAINERS M. W. WILLIAMS Filed Nov. 4, 1939 2 SheeQs-Sheet'i 1 INVENTOR "MAX WE LLS WILLIAMS BY WQ QM/Q ATTORNEY P 2, M. w. WILLIAMS I 2,254,924

CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR OPENING OF SHEET-METAL CONTAINER File'd Nov. 4', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fir::-7- 44 4 INVENTOR MAX WELLS WILLIAMS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1941 s PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE'ABRANGEMEN'I FOR OPENING OF SHEET-METAL CONTAINERS Max Wells Williams, Walden-share Park, Dover,-

England, assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Illinois Application November 4, 1939, Serial No. 302,874

' flhis'invention relates generally to metallic containers such as drums, barrels and the like and has to do particularly with closure means for theopenings therein and with methods or processes for forming and assembling such closure means. ployed for the transportation or storage of oil, gasoline, chemicals and the like readily lend themselves to being equipped with the closure means of this invention and to the performance thereon of the methods of'theinvention.

-A principal object of the invention is to-provide facilities for theproper reception of a cloplug in and. a cap seal over a threaded closure 'part, or neck, surrounding an opening in -containers of the types above described, such closure part, or neck, being formed directly out of the stock of the container wall around the opening. Another principal object is to provide a method for forming closure parts of the foregoing character in a simple, economical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide such closure part, or neck, with a reinforcement lwhich, while reinforcing, also aids in retaining the threaded contour and cooperates with the sure I threaded neck to provide a seal cap receiving portion.

Another object of. the invention is the provisionof a method for forming and assembling a closure part of the foregoing character by bending the metal of the container wall neck to form threads therein and also to form the mouth of said neck into gasket and seal cap receiving portions.

Still anotherv object. of the invention is the provision of a method for forming the above type of closure part by working the metal of the neck into a threaded formation having substantially the characteristics of standard pipe threads without materially weakening the metal so worked.

Other objects of theinvention will in part be obviousand in part appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereto'fore the closure bushings, or flanges, used around the openings of containers of the .'The types of containers normally em- In Great Britain October 28, 1938 10 Claims. (Cl

the'advent of the pressed type, made necessary the use of a heavy piece of metal to overlie the container wall in order to assure that a proper and substantial weld could be formed. The weight of this member, however, was not its only drawback, for the quantity of metal going into it made it expensive as did the handling of it due to its weight. .Furthermore, the weldwas normally formed on the outside of the drum wall. It was unsightly, had to be done by hand by skilled workmen and, even at its best, might have to be repaired from time to time as leaks would set in due to corrosion at points where the container wall stock had warped at or near the weld under the original welding heat.

The pressed-in type of bushing, or flange, though having the advantages over the welded type of economy of construction and insertion,

pleasing appearance, and sufllcient rigidity without'excessive weight, still requires that there be a joint .between the container wall and the bushing or flange. The pressed-in constructions, however, have lent themselves more readily to improvement in closure plugs and in the manner in which such closure plugs are received therein. They have also lent themselves better to the securing of a cap seal over the closure.

It is not feasible to cut threads into a neck formed directly out of the container wall stockaround the opening therein, as practically no material would remain in back of such threads, leaving the neck too weak to be reliable. Since ordinary plumbing fittings are secured in these openings, the threads provided around the same need to be standard pipe threads. The problem of rolling or pressing the stock of the neck into such threaded formation has been a considerable one. An isolated solution of it has been' attempted, but in that instance the resultant closure slips back in some respects into the welded field, since no provision is made for the more advanced type of closure plug nor for receiving any cap seal over the closure. No eflective and complete solution of the problem then has been forthcoming until applicant's present contribution.

character. with which this invention is concerned In the solution provided by applicant every requisite of an effective closure is satisfied. In the first place, the methods disclosed provide for either rolling or pressing the container wall neck into the desired threaded formation. methods are capable of being carried out by little additional equipment beyond that found in the .ordinary machine shop and accordingly keep the investment'down to a minimum. Labor cost These manner. Thus, the invention presents a marked advance in the art and a considerable step forward in the art of drum closuring. For illustration, reference is made in the drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a piece of container wall stock showing a plain,

unthreaded neck drawn about an opening there- Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the initial stage, including the neck to be worked on, of the mechanism illustrating the pressing method for forming the threads;

Fig. 3 is a similar section in the final stage;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view and Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections in initial and final stages respectively of a type of mechanism which may be employed for forming the closure of the invention by rolling, the neck to be worked on being included;

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, show-' ing the completed container wall neck ready to receive a closure plug and cap seal, such neck not being reinforced;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a neck reinforced with a ring;

Fig. '9 is another similar view wherein a different type reinforcing ring is employed and showing the manner in which the closure plug and seal cap are applied; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing a difl'erent type of reinforcing neck and cap seal receiving projection.

The showing in Fig. 1 is of an illustrative section of container wall stock l0 apertured at II and provided with a neck l2 drawn up out of the container wall stock to define the aperture II. In this state, the neck is ready for pressing or rolling into a thread form and for the formation of a bead at the end of such threads. The method of pressing threads into the neck'and beading over the end of the same is illustrated in the initial stage in Fig. 2 and in the final stage in Fig. 3.

In the Fig. 2 arrangement, the flat portion of thecontainer stock I0 is shown as resting on the accompanying ii, the upper end of which neck is grooved at 2| to receive and locate a contracting spring 2|. This spring extends completely around the man-' drel and is located in tension thereon. Opposed conical apertures 22 and 23 extend downwardly from the top and upwardly from the bottom of the mandrel l6, are centered on the center line thereof and are of corresponding slope. Complementary conical expanders 24 and- 25 extend downwardly into the upper cone 22 and upwardly into the lower cone 23 respectively, the arrangement being such that the upward travel of the expander 25 and the downward travel of the expander 24 are related to provide exactly equal horizontal expansion of the segments ll throughout the height of the mandrel IS without any vertical displacement of the mandrel.-

The neck l2, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8, is,

surrounded by a continuous reinforcing ring 28 which closely overlies the neck and rests at its bottom on the upper surface of the container wall stock 1 0. This ring, besides performing the eventual function of a reinforcement, initially acts as the female member into which the stock of the neck I2 is forced by the segmentsil' of the mandrel." in the formation of threads in the neck 12. threaded at 21 with threads which are complementary to the threads l8 of the mandrel IS. The proper registry of the threads I8 and 21 can be readily obtained by the proper positioning of locating marks on the ring 26 and the mandrel upper surface of the bed plate or other rigid support I3 of a press possessed of therequired A depression centrally apertured at [5 extends downwardly from the upper characteristics.

face of the plate I3. 0n the lower surface of the depression ii, an expanding mandrel, generally shown at I6, is mounted. This mandrel is made up of separated segments I! of any desired number, four being shown, for the purposes of illustration. Considering the expanded mandrel l6 as a whole, the peripheral surface of its upper portion is shown to be provided with a threaded contour l8. The peak and root of this thread are shown as sufliciently blunt to avoid cutting the drum stock neck, but yet not blunt enough to preclude the formation of threads simulating standard pipe thread.

Below its threaded periphery I I, the mandrel I8 is inset to form a downwardly extending neck- I. As can be readily seen, this registry is maintained throughout the expanding action of the segments l'l, since the same have merely a horizontal movement. Another factor to be considered is the diminishing. thread impression which will occur between the segments should they be too few in number. This can readily be corrected by a slight turning of the container wall i0 until a second locating mark on the ring 26 lines up with the locating mark on the mandrel H. A

Thissurface is formed in a circle complementary to the circle of the neck' l2 and has a sloping pickup portion 30 as well as acurved rolling portion 3|. The surface is sequentially arranged with respect to the position ofthe expanding cone 24, so that the sloping portion .30 engages the upper end of the neck l2 at close'to the .fully expanding position of the segment -ll, while the slope 30 and the curve 3| have a fast action which enables them to curl the upper end of the neck I2 over the upper end of the ring 26 to form. a bead 32 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Besides acting to bead over the upper end of the neck I2, the surfaces 30 and 3| exert a compressive force on that neck to prevent a stretching action of the neck l2 and in effect to make sure that the stock of the neck I 2 floods fully into the comating threads I! and 21 to assure that a complete, even and smooth thread is provided. Should a second expansion be required and the shim I 3' used, the rolling surface 29 will merely serve to tighten the bead 32. Alternativelythe Accordingly, the ring 26 is internallyfitted down onto the upper surface of the wall ID. The neck I2 is then placed over the expanding mandrel I6, which is in contracted position due to the action of the spring 2|, a check is made to see that the mandrel I6 and the ring 26 are properly registered and the cone 24 is engaged with the surface 22, following which it is forced downwardly at the same time that the cone 26 is being forced upwardly. Should suflicient spacing occur between the segments that a fadeout of the threads takes place therebetween, members 24 and 25 having been retracted, segments I'I being contracted by the spring 2|, a slight turning of the wall l and an insertion of the shim I3 is made. The segments I! are then again expanded -to complete the thread.

In Figs. 4, and 6, there is illustrated a method by which the stock of the neck I2 is bent into a threaded formation by a rolling rather than a pressing action. In this form, the outer, or female member, may be made of separable segments 34 and 35', as best shown in Fig. 4, these segments carrying the female thread 36 on their inner faces. Segments 34 and 36 could, however, merely be employed as backing members for a ring such as that shown at 26 and-in fact could be incorporated in thescheme of Figs. 2 and 3, if so desired. However, the use of segments 34 and 35 in removable fashion enables a threaded neck to be formed without the inclusion of a ring such as shown at 26. and with a consequent saving.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the segments 34 and 35 are shown in section as brought into position over the-neck I2 to be threaded. Internally of the neck I2 there is introduced a tapered rolling member 31, the entrant end of whose outer surface is substantially a flat cone 38. This cone expands into fully formed threads at 39 whose blunt peak and root will be effective when the by segments 34 and 35, the same being brought together to completea circle. The next step is theintroduction of the member 31 which first operates to open the mouth of the neck I2 and then, by gradually increasing thread contours, rolls the neck into a helical formation. By the time this rolling has been substantially completed the upper end of theneck I2 will have engaged with the surface 43, have been bent outwardly and turned over to form the head 44. At this point, the segments 33 and 35 may be removed and the member 31 retracted. Obviously modifications in the structure shown to illustrate this method of threading container wall necks as well as modifications in the illustrative structure of Figs. 2 and 3 may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In Fig. 7, a container wall neck I2 is shown as formed with threads 40 at whose top there has been provided a gasket seat and an outwardly turned cap seal receiving bead 44. This is the closure plug receiving neck which results from the method of Figs. 5 and 6, the showing here being of that form of the construction which is devoid of any reinforcing collar. It is to be noted in passing that, though the peak and root of the of a V-shape to substantially simulate standard pipe thread and they in fact approach such thread to such an extentthat they readily receive standard pipe fittings. Though the method of Figs. 5 and 6 has been referred to as the one employed in forming this type of neck, it is obvious that, by providing a-removable ring in place of ring 21 of the system of Figs. 2 and 3, this neck could also be made in that manner.

In Fig. 8, a neck I2 is shown as threaded at 3 as provided with a plug gasket "engaging surface at 46 and as beaded over at 32 to overlie the upper end of the reinforcing ring 26. This ring 26, be-

her during the formation of the thread 33.

With regard to the manner in which the closure plug and cap seal would be secured in place in the necks of Figs. 7 and 8, the same would closelyapproximate the showing in U. S. Patent No.

3 1,982,145 issuedto John W. Shera on November in Fig. 6. Suitable arrangements aremade' to as- ,sure that on the commencementof the'action of the threads 39, the samewill be improper registry with the threads-38 in order tliatnoi of theoperation wfll-take'place. 5i

' .The member .31 is formed centrally of its-'to'p I with an octagonal nut-like portion 4i which is received in? a comating depression'in the lowerface of the die plate 42. Any suitable means, such as the bolt here shown, may be employed to secure members 31 and 42 together. On the lower face of the member 42 where the same is met by the upper endof the threads 39, there is formed a circular rolling groove or surface 43. Since this surface closely follows the upper end of the threads 39, it is obvious that it will enease the neck I2 and turn the same over into a head 44, while the member 31 is coming to the end of its threading action.

From the structure illustrating. this method, it is seen that the container wall stock I0 is first formed with 'a neck I2, which neck is surrounded 2'7,- 1934. Inu'sing such cap seal on the'Fig. 7 construction, it might be necessary to shorten. the

- skirt of the same, and merelyhave such skirt crimped beneath the head, as it would not be advisableto operate the sealing tool against the threaded neck I2, 1

Q, In Fig. .9, there is shown a slightly modified" form of construction, in which the closure plug" mains around the neck l2 to reinforce the same I after completion of the threading. This ring 43 is cut away at 5| at the top of its threaded portion in such a manner as tov provide a seat for the reception of the outwardly bent portion 48 of the neck l2. The cut Ii is just deep enough to seat the portion 48 with its upper surface lying flush with the upper surface 52 of the ring 46 viously the gasket 51 will engage the flaredgasket receiving seat formed at the mouth of the opening by the outward bending of portion 48 on the neck i2 and willbe prevented from destruction by the timely engagement of the edge 68 of the plug head with the upper end of that gasket seat. The plug 54 having been secured in place, a cap seal 59 is secured thereover. This cap has has a top portion 60 with a depressed gasket receiving surface 6i therearound and a skirt portion 62 extending downwardly from the portion 6i. A gasket-63 is shown as secured in place inside of the cap in the pocket formed by the portions SI and 62. This gasket is preferably secured to the cap, but may be separate from it if desired. This seal cap is secured in place by means of a tool which draws the skirt of the cap over the bead 53 thereby compressing the gasket 63 against the surface 62. This action is fully described in U. S. Patent No. 1,887,435 issued to Fleck W. Sample on November 8, 1932,. so needs no further explanation.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 10 in which the neck l2, shown threaded at 64, has its upper end extended straight upwardly above the threads at 65 and then laterally at 66. The threaded reinforcing ring 61 is similar to the rings previously described with the exception that it is shorter than the same, terminating at the end of the threaded portion and having a separatecollar 68 lying on top thereof. This collar 'has a somewhat rounded outer periphery 69 and has a width equal to the lateral extent of portion 66. As this collar may be made by a stamping or coining operation and as ring 6'! has nothing but a threading operation performed on it, some economy is presented over the form shown in Fig. 9 on whose ring several machining operations must be performed.

Reverting to the Fig. 10 construction, it is seen that the plug 54 and the cap seal 59 are generally similar to their counterparts shown in Fig. 9. The only differencesv reside in the provision of a larger plug gasket receiving groove 10 carrying a larger plug gasket II which is required by the shape of the seat against which it engages. With regard to the seal cap, its construction is the same as that of the cap in Fig. 8, but on being applied it is not drawn into exactly the same shape as the Fig. 9 cap due to the flatness of the composite bead formed by the periphery of portion 66 and the face 6!. The cap gasket 63 is engaged against the fiat upper surface presented by the portion 66.

From the foregoing, the manner in which this invention solves outstanding problems in this Not only does it incorporate the art is obvious. most advantageous features previously known,

' but it also positively precludes any leakage between the bushing and the container wall by forming the same directly out of the container wall itself. While several forms of method and product have been shown and described, other changes in operations and in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departingjrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 4 r

1. The method of converting an integral upstanding neck surrounding the opening in a metal container wall into a closure receiving member which comprises, bending the stock of said neck into a formation presenting substantially a standard pipe thread and simultaneously therewith rolling the free end of said neck outwardly to provide a gasket receiving surface.

2. The method of forming-a closure receiving member on a metal container, wall which comprises drawing the stock of said wall around an opening therein into an integral upstanding neck, bending the stock of said neck into a contour presenting substantially standard pipe threads and, simultaneously with said bending, rolling the free end of said neck outwardly to present a gasket engaging surface.

3. The method of converting an integral upstanding neck surrounding the opening in a metal container wall into a closure receiving member which comprises swaging the stock of said neck to form inwardly and outwardly extending substantially standard pipe threads and,

simultaneously with said swaging, compressing said neck axially to prevent undue thinning thereof during said swaging operation..

N 4. The method of converting an integral upstanding neck surrounding the opening in a metal container wall into a closure receiving member which comprises swaging the stock of said neck to form inwardly and outwardly extending substantially standard pipe threads and, simultaneously with said swaging, compressing said neck axially to prevent undue thinning thereof during said swaging operation and curling the free end of said neck outwardly to provide a gasket seating surface around the open mouth of said neck.

' 5. The method of converting an integral upstanding neck surrounding the opening in a metal container wall into a closure receiving member which comprises bending the stock of said neck laterally to a contour presenting sub-* stantially standard pipe threads and simultaneously therewith curling the free end of said neck outwardly upon itself to form a cap seal receiving bead.

6. The method of forming a closure receiving member on a metal container wall which comprises drawing the stock of-said wall around an opening therein into an integral upstanding neck, swaging the stock of said neck into a contour presenting substantailly standard pipe threadsand, simultaneously with said'swaging,

compressing said neck axially to prevent undue thinning thereof during said swaging operation.

7. The methodof converting an integral upstanding neck surrounding the opening in a the stock thereof and a reinforcing annular bead formed at the free end of said neck said head extending outwardly and then reversely inwardly to terminate closely adjacent the threaded part of said neck.

10. In containerconstruction, a container wall having an opening therein surrounded by an upof said neck outwardly over the end of said -female die member to retain the .same in place around the said neck.

9. In container construction, a container wall having an opening therein, an. upstanding integral neck formed out of said wall and surroundins said opening, internally and externally ex- .tending threads formed in said neck by bending standing integral neck, part of said neck intermediate the ends thereof being provided with swaged substantially standard pipe threads and a reinforcing bead formed out of the stock of the free end of said neck, said-stock forming said bead being bent outwardly and back inwardly substantially upon itself to form an annular reinforcement for the end of said neck and to aid in maintaining the swaged contour of said neck' against shocks tending to'ditort the same.

, MAX WELLS W'IILIAMS, 

